Friday, December 31, 2010

Aeneas Meets Dido. To find out more about Aeneas and Queen Dido, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This painting by Pierre-Narcisse Guerin shows lovely Queen Dido, accompanied by her sister, meeting the warrior Aeneas and his son, Ascanius - or at least the boy whom they think is Ascanius (he is, in fact, Venus' son Cupid, disguised, who is going to make poor Dido fall in love with Aeneas).

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Apollo and Marsyas. To find out more about the contest between Apollo and Marsyas, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Daedalus and Pasiphae. To find out more about Pasiphae, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Orestes and the Furies. To find out more about Orestes, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Arachne. To find out more about Arachne, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

The Birth of Adonis. To find out more about Aphrodite's lover Adonis, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The Sabine Women Make Peace. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Aeneas Meets Dido. To find out more about Aeneas and Queen Dido, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Sabine Women Make Peace. To find out more about the early Romans and the Sabine women, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The painting is by Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825; Wikipedia has a great account of the dramatic moment in David's life when he conceived this painting) and depicts the dramatic moment when the Sabine women make peace between their Roman husbands and their Sabine fathers and brothers. The story of the "Rape of the Sabine Women" is the most famous episode in these events; that story tells how Romulus and his mostly male comrades had founded the city of Rome, but the men needed wives. Romulus therefore staged a festival and invited his Sabine neighbors to attend, men and women alike. During the festival, Romulus gave the signal and the Roman men grabbed the Sabine women and ran off with them; the Sabine women where then forced to marry their Roman abductors.

Later on, the Sabine king Titus Tatius led a war against the Romans, but the women intervened, which is the scene you see depicted in this painting - the women brought the war to a halt, and Titus Tatius and Romulus then ruled over Rome jointly, with the Sabines becoming part of the Roman community. Here is a detailed view of the central woman in the painting as she reaches out her arms in order to secure the peace:

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. This will be my last Bestiaria post for 2010, but I will see you back here on Saturday when it will be the year 2011... Faustum annum novum vobis omnibus exopto!

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is MOVEO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay, and it is one of my own personal favorites: Cum Minerva et manum move, "Move your arms along with Athena," an allusion to the Aesop's fable about the drowning man who calls on Athena to save him.

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Asinus asino et sus sui pulcher (English: One donkey is beautiful to another, one pig is beautiful to another). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Domi leones, sed foris vulpeculae (English: At home they are lions, but foxes when away - based on the proverbial opposition between the forceful lion and the wily fox; from Adagia Domi leones, sed foris vulpeculae. At home they are lions, but foxes when away. (Adagia 4.5.80).

For an image today, here is something to accompany Annuit coeptis, as shown on the American dollar bill:

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Arachne. To find out more about Arachne, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

This painting of the Arachne legend is by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). Arachne is the mortal woman who boasted that her skill was greater than that of the goddess of wisdom and crafts, Athena (Roman Minerva). They staged a contest and Arachne chose as the subject for her tapestry the amorous affairs and misdeeds of the gods; if you look closely at Rubens' painting, you can see Europa and the bull on the right side of the painting:

Of course, there is no way the goddess would allow Arachne to win! The two of them wove their tapestries, and Athena then tore Arachne's tapestry to shreds and then beat her with the wooden shuttle. Arachne then prepared to hang herself in despair, whereupon Athena turned her into a spider, dangling not from a noose but from her own web. You can read the full story in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 6.

English: "All the things of this round world are like a falling bubble; like the flower in the meadows, thus falls away all public esteem." So, while the principle of "publish or perish" rules the academic world, the ultimate rule of "perish" trumps everything... which makes the ephemeral nature of blogging seem more honest, yes? :-)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

There are probably hundreds (or more...?) paintings inspired by the legend of Narcissus, the man who was in love with his own reflection, and incapable of loving anyone or anything else. This particular painting dates to around the year 1500; notice that Narcissus is wearing contemporary clothes, rather than Greek or Roman garb. The artist is presumed to have been a follower of Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, who was in turn a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci. Note also that in the painting's version of the story, rather than discovering his reflection in a pool, this Narcissus sees himself in a basin of water.

The regular blog is below, but first - an announcement. It's a nice Christmas present from Blogger: mobile templates! If you had found it difficult/impossible to read this blog on a mobile device, take a look now. You should automatically see the mobile view displayed (and yes, you can also get the old web version by scrolling down to the bottom of the mobile screen). Here's what it looks like on my iPodTouch: I like it! For those of you who have your own Blogger blogs, here's how to set up your blog for mobile display. :-)

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Quod potes, tenta (English: Try what you are able to do - a Latin "be all that you can be" motto!).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Necessitas feriis caret (English: Necessity knows no holidays - so yes, alas, I still have to do the housecleaning during the delightful winter vacation).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam (English: He who loves a frog thinks that frog is the goddess Diana - of course, that is a proverb which suffers from the lack of rhyme in English, ha ha).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Tollere cristas: To set up the creaste. Applied to them that be proude or arrogant, and do stretche upp there browes with a disdaynefull countenance.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Zeus and Semele. To find out more about Semele, the mother of Dionysus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The painting depicts the dramatic moment in which the mortal woman Semele has recklessly asked her love Zeus to show himself to her in all his splendor. Zeus was bound to honor her wish, but no mortal can gaze on Zeus in his glory; Semele was instantly killed by the fire and lightning of his presence. Semele was already pregnant with their child, Dionysus, whom Zeus rescued from her body (you can see the blood dripping from her side) and then sewed into his own thigh. For this reason, Dionysus is sometimes called the "twice-born god," διμήτωρ or διμήτριος.

This amazing depiction of Zeus with his lover Semele is by the French Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau; the painting has its own Wikipedia article which provides some help in identifying the many allegorical and mythological figures incorporated in the painting. Below is a detail of Semele herself, for example, which allows you to see a weeping angel or Cupid just below Semele, to the left.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Hylam vocat (English: You're shouting for Hylas - but as we know from the myth of Hercules and Hylas, he cannot ever answer your call since the nymphs have taken him!).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sero sapiunt Phryges (English: The Phrygians get wise too late - the Phrygians here are the Trojans, who let the wooden horse into their city and didn't realize their mistake until it was too late; from Adagia 1.1.28).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Λύκος ποιμήν (English: The wolf as shepherd... which is to say, not a very good shepherd at all).

For an image today, in honor of the proverb Hylam vocat, here's the famous painting of Hylas and the Nymphs by John William Waterhouse:

Saturday, December 18, 2010

The Seven Against Thebes. To find out more about the war between the sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The story of the "Seven Against Thebes" is about the war waged between the two sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who led the Theban army, and his brother Polynices, who led an Argive army against Thebes. The "seven" were the captains in Polynices' army: Tydeus, Capaneus, Eteoclus, Hippomedon, Parthenopeus, Amphiaraus and Polynices himself. In the image below, you can see the seven of them swearing their oath: they have slaughtered a bull and have each dipped their hands into the blood of the bull; with that blood they swear that they will either capture the city of Thebes or die in the attempt. In the end, Eteocles and his army drive the captains away from the gates of Thebes, although Eteocles and Polynices both fall on the field of battle. This then leads to the tragic story of Antigone, who resolves to give her brother Polynices a symbolic burial, even though her uncle Creon has ordered that the body of Polynices should be left in the open as carrion.

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.The Seven Against Thebes. To find out more about the war between the sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Daphne and Apollo. To find out more about the nymph Daphne, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Zeus and Semele. To find out more about Semele, the mother of Dionysus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Pelops and Hippodamia. To find out more about Pelops and his courtship of Hippodamia, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Odysseus and Polyphemus. To find out more about Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Eteocles and Polynices. To find out more about the sons of Oedipus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Sale nihil utilius (English: Nothing is more useful than salt - which is true for food, of course, and also true of the "salt of wit" as well.)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Noli irritare leones (English: Do not provoke the lions!). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Ajax and Cassandra. To find out more about the Trojan princess Cassandra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In the image below, you see one of the most dramatic scenes from the downfall of Troy. The Greek have entered the city, concealed as they were in the wooden horse, and have caught the Trojans entirely by surprise. The Trojan princess Cassandra, who had foretold the disaster (although no one believed her), has fled to the temple of Athena for protection. In the image you can see her clinging to the Palladium, the sacred image of Athena, while the Greek warrior, Ajax the Lesser, pulls her forcibly away. Here is a detailed view of Cassandra as she clings to the statue of Athena:

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Scylla. To find out more about Scylla, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In this image of Scylla by John Flaxman, you can see that she has grabbed up some of the companions of Odysseus in her hands, which gives you a sense of scale. This Scylla is a gigantic monster! Flaxman has chosen to depict Scylla as still recognizably human from the top up; in other accounts, she is supposed to have six heads - not just one. Down below, you can see that she has tentacles instead of legs, with barking dogs' heads around her waist. You can read more about Scylla's appearance in this Wikipedia article.

Scylla posed a threat to sailors on one side of a narrow sea strait (perhaps the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily?), while the whirlpool monster, Charybdis, threatened from the opposite side. Sailing "between Scylla and Charybdis" was one of the perils that Odysseus faced on his journey home (see The Odyssey, Book 12). Compare also the Latin saying, Evitata Charybdi in Scyllam incidi, "Having avoided Charybdis, I've fallen into Scylla" (Erasmus, Adagia 1.5.4) - something like the English saying, "out of the frying pan, into the fire."

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Menelaus Fights Hector. To find out more about Hector, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In this vase painting, you can see the Greek warrior Menelaus fighting the Trojan warrior Hector over the body of Euphorbus, a fallen Trojan warrior; you can see his body shown there if you look closely. Euphorbus was one of the great heroes of Troy who was killed by Menelaus in battle. One of Euphorbus' claims to fame in later times was that the philosopher Pythagoras, who believed in reincarnation, claimed that he had been Euphorbus in a previous lifetime! Pythagoras reportedly had this realization when he saw the shield of Euphorbus on display in a sanctuary of Hera outside Argos, where Menelaus himself had supposedly dedicated Euphorbus' armor all those years ago.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

NOTE: I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so this will be the last round-up for a week or so, but I'll be back online and updating the blogs next Friday, December 17. For previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives.

Here are the daily fable and proverbs - they won't come through in the email, but just check the blog post to see what's new for the day... automatically updated while I am gone, thanks to the magic of javascript!

Diomedes and Glaucus. To find out more about the exchange of Diomedes and Glaucus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Notes: The exchange between Diomedes and Glaucus, an episode from Book 6 of Homer's Iliad which you can read about here in Wikipedia (and also in the article about Glaucus). The exchange is famously unfair: the two warriors swapped armor, but Diomedes gave Glaucus armor made of bronze, while Glaucus gave Diomedes armor made of gold. Blame it on Zeus! That's what Homer does anyway, when he tells us that it was Zeus who made Glaucus lose his wits and agree to such an unequal exchange. The figure on the right in the funny-looking clothes is Glaucus; he was a Lycian, an ally of the Trojans. Diomedes is on the left. You can read Homer's Iliad online in English here at the Internet Classics Archive.

For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Reference Page.Diomedes and Glaucus. To find out more about the exchange of Diomedes and Glaucus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Menelaus Fights Hector. To find out more about Hector, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Narcissus. To find out more about the self-absorbed Narcissus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Scylla. To find out more about Scylla, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Atalanta and Hippomenes. To find out more about this famous footrace, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Ajax and Cassandra. To find out more about the Trojan princess Cassandra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source. There's also a post here.

Electra and Orestes. To find out more about Orestes and his sister Electra, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Danaids. To find out more about the crimes and the punishment of the daughters of Danaus, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

The Danaids were the fifty daughters of King Danaus. They were betrothed
to the fifty sons of the king's brother, but there was no love lost
between the two brothers. On orders from King Danaus, all but one of the
fifty daughters murdered their new husbands on their wedding night (Hypermnestra
was the one exception). As a punishment, the Danaids were condemned for all eternity to try to fill a tub with water.

I'm starting something new today: Google Books! I've been an avid user of Google Books for several years, and the new Google eBookstore, which was just launched this week, has brought the treasure-trove of Google Books to the attention of many more people now. Well, I love Google Books and I wanted to share with people the amazing public domain books, all free, that I have been enjoying at Google Books. So, as you'll see in the post below, I'll be highlighting a couple of Google Books in each round-up post. I've also got some tips here on configuring your custom Google Bookshelves and searching your Bookshelves.

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Numquam est fidelis cum potente societas (English: An alliance with someone powerful is never reliable). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Occasio receptus difficiles habet (English: Opportunity is hard to get back a second time).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Ede nasturtium: Is applied to a dull and a grosse person, and for as muche as Nasturtium called cresses being eaten doth make the nose tinckle, and thereby causeth the dull spirites to wake, therefore by this proverbe ys ment, pluck up thie spirites, or awake dullarde or luske (a "lusk" or "luske" is an archaic English word meaning "a lazy person").